𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ➳ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

Chapter 15 ~ Something More

To say I was worried was an understatement. A massive understatement. Rick and Daryl had went with the others to enact the plan of taking down Negan. The first battle had begun today and being pregnant, I wasn't allowed to go. It pained me not to. I mean, I'd lost people because of Negan, too, but I didn't get to avenge them.

Daryl had pecked me on the forehead though before leaving and assured me he would kill as many of them that he could. And I knew he would. Besides...there was something bothering Carl and I hated to leave him alone with it. Currently, I was leaning with my arm pressed against the doorway to our front door, just watching him intently. I loved him but my gosh, he could be secretive when he wanted to be. He was sitting in the rocking chair on the porch now, bouncing Judith on one leg and Winnie on the other.

Both girls giggled happily, urging him to rock faster and leaning forward out of his arms. I smiled at how happy the three of them were. I loved days like this, days we could be free, be us. The hot sun beat down on us and if it wasn't for the roof over the porch, it would be too humid out here. At least that's what the locals around here told us but growing up in Georgia, I can handle way more heat than they could here. Stepping down onto the creaky floorboards of the porch to make my presence known, all heads turned to me.

I smiled at the girls before sharing a look with Carl. I wanted to talk and from the expression on his face, he knew it, too.

"Girls, why don't you play out here a minute while Angel and I talk?" he said to them and they both nodded their heads dutifully as he settled them down on the blanket that had been spread out for them, toys strewed all over it before walking over to me.

"What's up?" he asked, his hand reaching for mine.

I watched as he intertwined our fingers, locking our hands together like puzzle pieces before gazing back into his face.

"Something's up with you. I don't know what or why but...I just...you know you can tell me anything, right? It's what I want you to do...I love you," I said to him softly, meaning every word.

A smile graced his face and he pulled me in for a kiss - chaste but sweet - before pulling away.

"I know that, Angel. But everything's fine, okay?" he reassured him.

And as I looked into his eyes, I could tell he meant it. Finally, I sighed and nodded before he pressed his lips to my forehead once, twice, then bounded up the stairs to our shared bedroom. I didn't buy it. Not for one second. I sighed, my eyes fluttering shut as I remembered what he'd said earlier today.

~ Flashback ~

"Hey. Hey!" Rick called after him, power-walking to catch up, "What does that mean?"

"What I said. You "hope" the guy makes it. That's not enough," Carl told his father indignantly, "If you give a -"

"Carl," Rick said in a warning tone, pointing a finger at him.

I almost snickered. Carl was older now but Rick still acted like a father to him. Comical but sweet at the same time.

"If you care, you do something. You don't just hope. It takes more than that. That's what I meant, " he explained to his dad as I walked alongside the two of them in silence, carrying a gas can in my hand, "There's gonna be something after the fight's over,"

"Not for everyone," Rick replied, indifferent to Carl's opinion.

"Okay, yeah, but..." he said somberly, his expression shifting slightly at his father's words, "What about for you? For the both of you?"

His eye locked onto me then and I met his gaze with slight uncertainty.

I shrugged in response, "Honestly? I don't know... But it doesn't matter. As long as I'm with you, I don't care what the quality of my life might end up like. Not if I have you,"

I expected him to smile as he always did when I declared my love for him but instead, I just received a curt nod as he thought over what I said. A frown formed on my face and I stared down at my shoes once more as the three of us walked on.

"You're gonna live, dad. And you, Angel. The both of you are... Why are we doing this? Why are we fighting them?" he asked us rhetorically, "So it isn't like how they want it, with everyone working for them, everyone living for them? We're fighting so it's all of us working together for something more than just killing other people,"

"Well, you think we're gonna be out there, picking strawberries with Negan?" Rick asked him and I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up from my throat.

I received harsh looks from both men but I just shrugged it off as they continued their conversation.

"If that's what it takes," Carl replied and this time, Rick shook his head at his son, "It's more than just hope. What, are we just gonna kill all of them? Finding some way forward, that's harder. That's something more. Dad, that's how it's got to be."

I stayed silent and so did Rick as we kept walking, letting the road take us to our destination.

~ End of Flashback ~

He hasn't been right since we went out to search for Siddiq yesterday. It had me worried, too. It was out of character for Carl to act in this way. He was never cold or indifferent. But now?... Now something was bothering him. Probably more than I knew.